Therapeutic indications and metabolic effects of metreleptin in patients with lipodystrophy syndromes: Real-life experience from a national reference network.

AIM: To describe baseline characteristics and follow-up data in patients with lipodystrophy syndromes treated with metreleptin in a national reference network, in a real-life setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical and metabolic data from patients receiving metreleptin in France were retrospectively collected, at baseline, at 1 year and at the latest follow-up during treatment. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients with lipodystrophy including generalized lipodystrophy (GLD; n = 28) and partial lipodystrophy (PLD; n = 19) received metreleptin over the last decade. At baseline, the median (interquartile range [IQR]) patient age was 29.3 (16.6-47.6) years, body mass index was 23.8 (21.2-25.7) kg/m2 and serum leptin was 3.2 (1.0-4.9) ng/mL, 94% of patients had diabetes (66% insulin-treated), 53% had hypertension and 87% had dyslipidaemia. Metreleptin therapy, administered for a median (IQR) of 31.7 (14.2-76.0) months, was ongoing in 77% of patients at the latest follow-up. In patients with GLD, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting triglyceride levels significantly decreased from baseline to 1 year of metreleptin treatment, from 8.4 (6.5-9.9)% [68 (48-85) mmol/mol] to 6.8 (5.6-7.4)% [51(38-57) mmol/mol], and 3.6 (1.7-8.5) mmol/L to 2.2 (1.1-3.7) mmol/L, respectively (P < 0.001), with sustained efficacy thereafter. In patients with PLD, HbA1c was not significantly modified (7.7 [7.1-9.1]% [61 (54-76) mmol/mol] at baseline vs. 7.7 [7.4-9.5]% [61(57-80) mmol/mol] at 1 year), and the decrease in fasting triglycerides (from 3.3 [1.9-9.9] mmol/L to 2.5 [1.6-5.3] mmol/L; P < 0.01) was not confirmed at the latest assessment (5.2 [2.2-11.3] mmol/L). However, among PLD patients, at 1 year, 61% were responders regarding glucose homeostasis, with lower baseline leptin levels compared to nonresponders, and 61% were responders regarding triglyceridaemia. Liver enzymes significantly decreased only in the GLD group. CONCLUSIONS: In this real-life setting study, metabolic outcomes are improved by metreleptin therapy in patients with GLD. The therapeutic indication for metreleptin needs to be clarified in patients with PLD.

Mineralocorticoid deficiency in post-operative cerebral salt wasting.

Acute hyponatremia, following neurosurgery, results from inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) or cerebral salt wasting (CSW). CSW is due to abnormally high atrial or brain natriuretic peptides (ANP, BNP), which block all stimulators of zona glomerulosa steroidogenesis, resulting in mineralocorticoid deficiency. A 3 year-old girl presented CSW at day 4, after resection of craniopharyngioma and hypophysectomy. Hyponatremia, hyperkalemia and high natriuresis occurred on day 8, with low renin and aldosterone and elevated BNP 120.3 ng/ml (undetectable before surgery). Fludrocortisone 100 microg/day controlled natriuresis and restored electrolytes within 24 hours. A 5 year-old boy presented CSW at day 6 after partial resection of optic glioma. Fludocortisone 100 microg/day restored electrolytes within 8 hours. ANP was elevated, 60.6 ng/l, aldosterone and renin were low. Fludrocortisone supplementation should be considered in CSW, as excessive natriuresis is controlled, and electrolytes are easily restored, avoiding life-threatening complications of this complex disorder.

IgA anti-transglutaminase antibodies as a tool for screening atypical forms of coeliac disease in a French at-risk paediatric population.

OBJECTIVE: The diagnosis of coeliac disease (CD) is often delayed because many children are free from the major symptoms characteristic of this enteropathy. The aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy of antibodies directed against tissue transglutaminase (tTG Abs) for early detection of CD in a population with few symptoms of the disease, as well as in children with an autoimmune disorder. METHODS: This was a prospective study in a paediatric population including 638 patients with clinical symptoms frequently associated with CD, autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1), autoimmune thyroiditis or hepatitis, and Turner's syndrome. Anti-endomysium, tTG Abs and antigliadin antibodies were analysed in these patients using an indirect immunofluorescence technique and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques. Intestinal biopsies were performed for some patients with positive or negative antibodies. RESULTS: tTG Abs were detected in 2.6% of children with symptoms associated with CD, such as digestive signs and growth failure, and in 5.4% of children with DM1. No other autoimmune disease was positive for tTG Abs. Biopsies performed in the patients with positive tTG Abs showed mucosal atrophy confirming the diagnosis of CD in all cases. CONCLUSION: Children displaying minimal symptoms frequently associated with CD and children with DM1 should be systematically screened for tTG Abs.